在我國,城市中的清真寺在當代具有重要的社會功能。清真寺作為國家法定的宗教活動場所,一方面,通過參與形塑群體性規則意識、參與規範和約束穆斯林的客觀行為,實現了參與國家社會控制,維護社會秩序的功能;另一方面,通過清真寺內的宗教儀式和身份認同機制,清真寺展現出了強大的聚合力,成為了凝聚社會團結的黏合劑;而作為社會組織,清真寺在"愛國愛教"傳統的指引下,通過組織和開展各項社會活動,引導宗教與信教群眾更好地適應社會,成為了勾聯個人與群體、地方與國家關系的重要紐帶和橋梁。

The mosque has important social functions in contemporary Chinese cities. As a legal religious area,the mosque involves itself in the social control,and maintains the social order by establishing the collective consciousness and regulating the objective behaviors of the Muslims. On the other hand,the mosque shows the strong power of cohesion through religious rites and its identity- system,and in turn strengthens social unity. As a social organization under the guidance of "loving both the nation and the religion",the mosque organizes various social activities for helping its believers adapt to the society better and serves as an important bridge between individuals and groups,as well as between the local society and the whole country.